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"Mother?" Joanna breathed. |
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"Lord Ian has done me the honor of asking me to be his wife, and I have accepted his offer," Alinor confirmed formally. "In the future, you must obey him as you would obey me or your father." |
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"Will you teach me to joust?" Adam asked eagerly. |
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"When you are old enough." |
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"I am old enough now. I am big and strong. You said yourself" |
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Alinor watched Ian's face, where a most interesting struggle was taking place as Adam pleaded with him. Long habit and strong affection urged Ian to yield to the child. A new sense of responsibility checked him. In the past he had been the children's advocate against their parents, secure in the knowledge that Alinor or Simon would not yield on any point that was really important or might be harmful. Now, particularly in Adam's training, he himself was the final judge. Reluctantly he shook his head. |
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"You are not old enough. There are many things to prove before the question of jousting arises." |
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"Do you have anything new to say? If not, hold your tongue, or I will take it as a proof that you are not old enough to be reasonable and obedient. If you are not reasonable and obedient, then you cannot be trusted to come out with Beorn and myself to search for the outlaws who have been attacking the serfs. If you are, you can carry my shield for me." |
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Eyes and mouth rounded into ecstatic Os. With an effort, Adam swallowed his further protests. To go out with Ian was a present much too marvelous to endanger for any future benefit. Besides, after the hunt for the reavers was over, there was nothing to stop him from asking about the jousting again. Adam had discovered that if one asked for a thing often enough one usually got it. There might be a sharp slap or two in between |
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